UES PTP sponsors holiday shopping event

Staff photo by Wm. Shawn Weigel:
Shoppers check out the selection at the Green Eyed Lady table at Unionville Elementary School as part of a unique new fund raiser that brings a variety of local vendors to set up shop at the school over the weekend.

Last weekend, the halls of Unionville Elementary School more resembled an upscale boutique than the hallowed halls of learning as the PTO held its first holiday shopping event.

Organizer and PTO member Michelle Reichert said the idea was to bring a variety of local vendors together to both earn some money for the PTO, and to bring some acclaim and familiarity to the vendors.

Vendors from private quilt and craft makers to stores like Green Eye Lady from Kennett Square lined the halls at UES

Reichert said that she was hoping for more traffic over the two days of the event last Friday and Saturday, but that there have been plenty of customers and she hopes word of mouth will spread.

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“We expected more traffic, but again this is the first year, and it’s more about bringing awareness into the school,” Reichert said. “Some vendors have done great, some just OK.”

It’s also about bringing much-needed attention to the variety of businesses in the Kennett and Unionville-Chadds Ford area.

“From an awareness piece, we did good; from a traffic piece, we’ll probably do better next year. Some vendors did better than others, but that’s the name of the game.”

The PTO earned their money from renting the table to the vendors, who keep all the proceeds from sales, Reichert said.

Each vendor also donated an item for raffle, Reichert said, and the proceeds from those ticket sales go directly to the PTO.

She added that while the PTO members had not planned on a monetary goal for this event, similar shopping boutiques she’s initiated at other schools have brought in as much as $2,500.

“Being the first time, it’s more about creating the awareness,” Reichert said.

They even set up a table in the entrance filled with items and advertisements from vendors who couldn’t make the event in an effort to help bring awareness to local businesses as the holiday shopping season approaches.

“We just want to all work together as a school and a community to support one another,” Reichert said. “And by supporting one another, we also can benefit as a PTO. One hand kind of washes another.”

Having been a UES parent for the past two years, Reichert said that she sees opportunities like this to do more than just raise funds for the PTO.

“It’s about bringing people into the school, not just about making money,” she said. “Let’s bring them in and work together,” she said.

The goal for next year, Reichert said, is to do it the Saturday before Thanksgiving and make it a one-day event, with a bigger push towards getting the word out.

“This could be a big win/win for the schools and our local vendors, we’re excited to see how it grows.”